I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 274 Borrowing Zhang Liao Again
Elephant hide with mountain-patterned chainmail.

As Liu Miao said, although Jiangdong's resources were inferior to Yuan Shao's, especially in terms of cowhide and warhorses, trade and technology undoubtedly solved these two problems easily.

What we need to do next is wait patiently and try our best to bring out a heavy cavalry force that can also deliver a decisive blow before Yuan Shao attacks!
Liu Miao already had his answer in mind regarding the choice of this cavalry commander...

"General, it is regrettable that I do not have a single general under my command who is skilled in cavalry!"

Liu Miao ran up to Lü Bu and cried poverty.
Lu Bu's father-in-law was quite a good friend.

"My troops are all generals skilled in leading cavalry!"

Lu Bu now completely considers Liu Miao one of his own! His own son-in-law!
In "The Alliance of Langya", not only did they get him most of Qingzhou, but they also promised to give him half of the warhorses from the Liaodong trade. From the time Lu Bu was born until now, even his own father had never treated him so well!

So when Liu Miao was in trouble, Lü Bu immediately waved his hand—

"Zhongshan, don't rush this matter!"

"If there's any general under my command that you fancy, feel free to take him with you!"

"Anyway, we're as close as family. Wherever those generals lead troops, it doesn't matter, right? Haha!"

Liu Miao's eyes widened immediately: "Anyone is fine?"

"Anyone is fine!"

Lü Bu was resolute.

"Would Wei Xu, the general's brother-in-law, be suitable?"

"This……"

Lu Bu, who had been so resolute just moments before, began to look unsteady.

As a relative of Lü Bu, Wei Xu was entrusted by Lü Bu to lead the Trapped Camp after Gao Shun left.

This relationship transcends that of an ordinary officer and subordinate... but Lu Bu, who had just agreed to Liu Miao's request, is now in a dilemma.

"It's my fault! It's all my fault!"

Seeing Lü Bu's troubled expression, Liu Miao surprisingly apologized first.

“I have seen that General Wei Xu is brave enough to fight ten thousand men! Under heaven, apart from you, there is probably no general who is more skilled in battle than you! But I forgot that Wei Xu is your brother. Forgive me, forgive me.”

Liu Miao raised his cup as a self-punishment: "General Wei Xu is not suitable. What about Zhang Liao, Zhang Wenyuan? What do you think is feasible?"

"This……"

Zhang Liao was always Lü Bu's right-hand man.

Moreover, unlike Gao Shun's stubborn and argumentative temperament, Zhang Liao was much more reserved, which is why he was deeply loved by Lü Bu.

Lu Bu was equally reluctant to part with Zhang Liao!
But having just prevented Liu Miao from taking Wei Xu, how could Lü Bu now stop Liu Miao from demanding Zhang Liao?

Liu Miao has done Lü Bu a great favor! Yet, when Liu Miao asked Lü Bu for two people in a row, Lü Bu refused. What will people think of Lü Bu if word gets out?
After a moment's thought, Lü Bu also raised his cup: "In that case, Zhang Liao will be entrusted to Zhongshan!"

"Hahahaha!"

Liu Miao demanded Zhang Liao's hand over in a conversation, and by the time Zhang Liao learned what had happened, it was too late.

Just as Zhang Liao was feeling uneasy, the two men entered Zhang Liao's tent together.

His former colleague Gao Shun, and Xu Huang, who was practically a fellow townsman.

Zhang Liao was imposing and serious, rarely smiling, but upon seeing the two men, he exclaimed with delight, "What brings you two here?"

Especially Gao Shun.

"How have you been since we parted ways?"

"Of course, all is well!"

Gao Shun and Xu Huang did not hide their purpose and explained frankly: "Our lord ordered us to come and appease Wen Yuan!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liao couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

"I have followed Lord Wen for many years, yet he has abandoned me so easily... Alas!"

"Wen Yuan, you are mistaken!"

Gao Shun had seen Liu Miao's respectful and courteous manner towards scholars (and his shamelessness).

"It's not that Marquis Wen abandoned Wen Yuan, but rather that General Liu cherishes Wen Yuan, which is why he asked Marquis Wen to give Wen Yuan back!"

Xu Huang also asked mysteriously, "Wen Yuan, why don't you guess what our lord wants you to do?"

Zhang Liao shook his head.

Time was of the essence, and he hadn't really heard the details clearly.

"Our lord wants Wen Yuan to lead the newly formed heavy cavalry so that they can contend with Yuan Shao on the battlefield in the future!"

"what?"

With Guan Jing's return to Qingzhou, almost all the military officers knew about the Battle of Yijing.

The reputation of the heavy cavalry completely overshadowed that of the White Horse Cavalry, making the generals both envious and wary.

Zhang Liao had previously considered asking Lü Bu to form a heavy cavalry force.

But Zhang Liao nipped the idea in the bud as soon as it came to mind.

Lü Bu was not good at governing the people.

Previously, the reason why Lü Bu was able to manage Xuzhou and keep his finances from collapsing was because the trade between Jiangdong and Hebei passed through Xiapi, which brought him a considerable income to support his troops. If Lü Bu were to develop heavy cavalry, the finances of Qing and Xu provinces would likely collapse completely. At that point, how could he talk about resisting foreign enemies and restoring the Han dynasty?
Zhang Liao was a seasoned general who had fought many battles, so he must have known what heavy cavalry meant.

Throughout the land, only three warlords—Yuan Shao, Liu Miao, and Cao Cao—were capable of commanding a fully-fledged heavy cavalry force.

Therefore, although Zhang Liao was envious, he did not believe he was qualified to command those heavy cavalry.

But now you're telling him that Liu Miao actually wants to hand over his heavy cavalry to him to lead?
Zhang Liao was speechless at first, then he couldn't believe it.

"Those heavily armored cavalry, who knows how much effort it would take to assemble them! I'm just an outsider, how can General Liu entrust his troops to me with peace of mind?" "..."

Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, and Xu Huang were all three taciturn individuals.

Upon hearing Zhang Liao's question, Gao Shun and Xu Huang exchanged a glance, unsure of what to say.

Only when the silence had become long enough for the two of them to know they had to say something did Xu Huang finally speak: "What do you mean by outsider or insider?"

"Aren't we all... trying to restore the Han Dynasty?"

"The transfer of generals has always been so common in the imperial court, why should we differentiate between them?"

Gao Shun also said at the right time: "When Liu Biaoqi personally came to my camp to invite me, I told him that if Wenhou was in trouble, I would immediately return to Wenhou's place, and Liu Biaoqi agreed without hesitation."

"In Liu Biaoji's eyes, perhaps neither Wenhou nor you and I are more than colleagues who are working with him to restore the Han Dynasty, not as masters and servants, ruler and subject. The reason for calling up Wen Yuan is simply because Wen Yuan is good at leading cavalry, nothing more!"

Xu Huang followed up by continuing to attack Zhang Liao—

“Wen Yuan, I have served under General Liu for quite some time. General Liu has never treated his officials with the same harshness and disrespect that a master would show to his servants. Now that he is asking Marquis Wen for Wen Yuan, he must value Wen Yuan’s talent, which is why he wants you to lead the troops.”

Xu Huang added with a smile, "Among the generals under Liu Biaoji, there are indeed many who are not good at mounted combat, but they are not entirely without flaws."

“Sun Bofu, who was stationed with me in Xiaopei, had previously been confident that he could command those heavy cavalry, but unexpectedly Wen Yuan beat him to it.”

"Now, countless generals under our lord's command are coveting this soon-to-be-formed heavy cavalry. Now that it has fallen into Wen Yuan's hands, why isn't Wen Yuan hurrying to thank our lord instead of wallowing in self-pity here?"

The two men's words enlightened Zhang Liao.

Now that the die is cast, Zhang Liao should not wallow in self-pity or be filled with fear and suspicion.

The best way to establish a good reputation is to thank Liu Miao openly and generously!
Otherwise, if we anger Liu Miao in the future, would we have to slink back to Lü Bu's side?

Although Zhang Liao appeared humble, how many famous generals are not arrogant?
After figuring out his situation, Zhang Liao immediately nodded: "I will go and see Liu Biaoqi right away!"

------

After abducting Zhang Liao, Liu Miao saw no need to stay in Qingzhou any longer.

Langya was the only place that was devastated by war, so Liu Miao simply left Zang Ba there to establish a horse ranch.

The warhorses from Liaodong were transported to Yingzhou and accounted for with Lü Bu. The remaining warhorses could then be taken to Langya for training, breeding, and reproduction, which saved costs.

Lü Bu naturally had no objection to this.

By setting up a horse ranch in Langya, Lü Bu could also conveniently gather some grain and feed, and at the same time, he could also gather some young mares for Red Hare. Why not do it?

After settling everything in Qingzhou, Liu Miao was still somewhat uneasy about the unpredictable and volatile situation in the north.

Liu Miao specially summoned Sima Yi and directly handed him something—

My own talisman!
Upon seeing this, Sima Yi quickly refused, saying, "Your Majesty, I am terrified."

"What are you afraid of? If we're telling you to take it, then take it."

Liu Miao couldn't help but chuckle when he saw that Sima Yi was still trying to put on an act.

"Does Zhongda think that his abilities are insufficient to shoulder this important responsibility?"

Sima Yi also knew that Liu Miao never liked polite and hypocritical people, so he dared not be insincere with Liu Miao. He worriedly said, "Nowadays, even the most trusted ministers like Zhou Gongjin and Lu Zijing have not performed meritorious service in upholding the imperial authority. How can I have the face to accept such an important trust?"

"Special cases are handled specially."

Liu Miao's words effectively blocked Sima Yi's escape route.

"Now Xiaopei is located right in the middle of the three factions of Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and Lü Bu."

"Bo Fu and Gong Ming are both capable generals, but the current situation is clearly not something that can be dealt with by force alone."

Liu Miao seemed to have thought of something, and then smiled slightly: "Now Kongming has not only gained a thousand gold pieces for improving the loom, but has also made a great name for himself in Yijing."

Guan Jing even said, "If Kongming doesn't leave, Yijing will not be lost."

"Now that Kongming is famous throughout the world... Zhongda, let me ask you, are you truly content?"

Sima Yi looked at Liu Miao helplessly.

If it were anyone else, Sima Yi truly wouldn't care.

Even if it was Zhou Yu, even if it was Lu Su, or even if it was Lu Yi, that young genius who showed terrifying talent at a young age, Sima Yi was still able to remain calm.

Only Zhuge Liang.

Sima Yi felt something was wrong whenever this person was mentioned.

They might not be considered mortal enemies.

They're supposed to be friends, but they're not that close.

For some reason, ever since that debate in Xiangyang, Sima Yi had been trying to prove to Zhuge Liang that he was right!
Zhuge Liang's pure and innocent faith was nothing more than naivety born of inexperience!
It was thought that after being driven away by Gongsun Zan, Zhuge Liang would understand the situation.

But instead of being discouraged by Gongsun Zan, Zhuge Liang became even more determined in his mind!
This inevitably made Sima Yi somewhat depressed.

Now, hearing Liu Miao's provocative words, and knowing full well that accepting the token would bring endless trouble and was not in line with his low-key style, he decided to accept it.

But in order to prove himself to Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi still decided—

He took the job!

"What does my lord require of me?"

"Stabilize the situation in the north, provide cover for Cao Cao and Lü Bu, and at the same time buy me time from the rear."

Liu Miao had a clear understanding of this battle.

"As long as Yuan Shao doesn't kill Cao Cao or Lü Bu with a single blow, we will win this battle!"

(End of this chapter)